Omega-3s are well known for providing many health benefits, especially cardiovascular health and brain health. Now, mental health may be among the reasons to supplement with omega-3s, according to a new observational study.
Why is this omega-3 research important?
“Our findings show that individuals with higher plasma omega-3 levels … consistently had lower risks of both past and future self-harm behaviors. While we cannot infer causality, the strength and consistency of these associations, particularly for medical-record-verified outcomes, point to a potentially important protective role for omega-3 fatty acids in mental health,” said W. Grant Franco, M.D., the study’s lead author in a press release from OmegaQuant.
William S. Harris, Ph.D., senior author and president and founder of the Fatty Acid Research Institute (FARI) added, “Omega-3 fatty acids … are known to support brain function and reduce inflammation. Our results align with previous research linking low omega-3 status to higher suicide risk. Given that omega-3 levels are generally low in Western populations, improving dietary intake or supplementation patterns may be a simple, safe strategy to support mental well-being — especially among those at elevated risk.”
What is the key takeaway from this study?
Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids provides a nutrition-based strategy to support mental health.
What were the details of the UK Biobank omega-3 study?
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Design: The data were obtained from the United Kingdom Biobank (UKBB), which is a population-based cohort of over 500,000 individuals aged 40-69 recruited in the late 2000s.
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Study size: Researchers used data from over 258,000 participants. Secondary analyses were conducted on over 80,000 subjects.
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Outcomes measured: Plasma omega-3 fatty acid levels were measured using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). For the secondary analysis, subjects answered questions about self-harm and suicidal ideation.
What were the results?
Omega-3 fatty acid levels were inversely associated with suicidal ideation. This was true for total omega-3s, DHA and non-DHA omega-3s, with DHA having the strongest association. Omega-3s were associated with less suicidal ideation and self-harm based on both past and future metrics. However, the authors were careful to note that correlation does not necessarily equal causation.
How does this build upon prior omegas research?
Other studies have shown a possible link between omega-3s and mental health. Researchers analyzed data from over 6,700 individuals in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which showed higher intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was associated with decreased mortality risk in depressed subjects. Scientists also using data from UKBB found an inverse relationship between plasma omega-3 levels and anxiety and depression.
The authors of the current study posited that the results were due to omega-3s’ role in neurocellular health and their anti-inflammatory properties. This is supported by other observational studies, including one from Korea, in which scientists found higher memory scores in participants regularly supplementing with omega-3s.
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